Los Angeles and Denver —Aug 16, 2006
Kodak and National CineMedia To Jointly Develop Digital Cinema Theatre Management Software
New Open Design Intended to Integrate with Existing Exhibition Systems
Kodak Digital Cinema and National CineMedia (NCM) have begun a collaborative arrangement to develop the next generation digital cinema theatre management software (TMS). The TMS will be designed to integrate with existing exhibition equipment, management systems and digital cinema system components from other manufacturers.
The new software is expected to allow theatre owners to integrate all aspects of digital cinema with the business and operational requirements of exhibition, including show presentation, ticketing, feature and trailer scheduling, playback reconciliation, and more. The Kodak-branded software will be marketed by Kodak to all exhibitors worldwide.
“We have entered into this arrangement with Kodak to collaborate in the development of a TMS to National CineMedia’s specifications,” said Tom Galley, chief operations and technology officer of National CineMedia. “Development of the software is already underway and is expected to continue in the months ahead.”
“We believe the TMS will bring new interoperability to theatres that install our software,” added Bob Mayson, general manager and vice president of Kodak Digital Motion Imaging. “It is expected to transform standalone components into automated networked systems to help exhibition and studios more fully realize the potential of digital cinema.”
The new theatre management software will be designed to coordinate and control all digital content and components via an in-cinema network, and to enable content to be received at a central point in the multi-plex, assembled effectively, deployed correctly, and played automatically.
It is expected to handle the collection, aggregation, and reporting of show data and maintenance information, allow for remote programming and diagnostics, and bring new efficiencies to cinema operations.
The arrangement calls for Kodak to market the solution, with initial targets expected to be the 15 exhibition chains worldwide (more than 2,100 screens) that have installed the Kodak digital pre-show solution, as well as the owners of National CineMedia – AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA and Regal Entertainment Group.
"Although NCM’s owners and other partners will not be obligated to purchase the Kodak system, we’ll be working closely with NCM to ensure that the software being developed will meet the needs of their owners and other exhibitors,” said Mayson.
TMS beta-testing in multiple sites is expected to occur in the 4th quarter of this year.
